Legal Services Bill: A Victory for People of Wyoming

Governor Dave Freudenthal signed House Bill 0061 into law March 11, 2010,
creating a legal services program for indigent Wyoming residents. The
program will be critical to ensuring access to the courts for those who
would not otherwise be able to afford an attorney.

Wyoming’s Access to Justice Commission worked tirelessly to make
this day a reality. Commission member R. Daniel Fleck, of The Spence Law
Firm, LLC, was happy with the result: “equal access to the courts
is a hallmark of our democracy. This is a great day for the people of
Wyoming.”

The Wyoming Supreme Court – or a nonprofit organization designated
by the Court – will operate the program, which will fund legal services
for indigent Wyomingites in need of civil legal services. Wyoming’s
extremely poor population is estimated to be 75,000; without legal services
funding, approximately 80% of that demographic could not afford representation.